Originally posted by mekhanics
One of the most common clichés about Islam is that it “spread by the sword”.
I am happy that you reject Islam's violent past.
Muhammad himself however was an enthusiastic jihadist.
570 - Born in Mecca
610 - 1st visions at 40
622 - 634 - 1st 18 months after migration to Medina - 7 Muslim raids on caravans.
624 - Muslim ambush of caravan at Nakhla - 8 to 10 Muslims - killed 1 and captured 2 caravan attendants.
Raid occurred during holy month of Rajab. Bloodshed forbidden according to pagan beliefs. Wave of indignation in Medina. New Quranic revelation to
justify the attack during holy month.
624 - Battle of Badr
624 Muhammad lays siege to the Qainuqa Jewish tribe in Medina. Expels the tribe (including 700 fighting men) and divides their property amongst his
followers.
625 - Battle of Mount Uhud. Muslim defeat. Over 70 Muslims killed.
625 - Muhammad lays siege to Nadir Jewish tribe in Medina. Driven out of Medina and divides their property amongst his followers.
626 - Muhammad sends small force to fight hostile tribes in area of Dumat al- Jandal, 500 miles North East of Medina.
627 - Muhammad lays siege to Quraaiza Jewish tribe in Medina. 600 to 800 males beheaded on Muhammad's orders. Women and children enslaved.
627 - Further raids and a number of political assassinations. Muhammad absolved Muslim assassins of any wrong.
628 - Meccans and Muhammad negotiate a 10 year truce. Muslims forced to stop raiding caravans in return for right to make a yearly, 3 day pilgrimage
to Mecca.
628 Muhammad lays siege to Jewish tribe in Khaibar with an army of 2,000.
Jews surrendered after a month. Jews stripped of possessions and ordered to leave.
Number of other Jewish communities surrendered on similar terms.
629 Muhammad renounces the 10 year truce with Mecca.
630 Muhammad sets off to besiege Mecca with a force of 10,000 men. Mecca surrenders with little resistance.
630 Battle of Hunayn - Muslim army of 12,000 men against Bedouin tribe of Hawazin. Muslim victory.
630 Muhammad advances to Byzantine (Eastern Roman Empire) frontier with an army of 30,000, 500 miles North of Medina.
631 Tribal dignitaries from all over Arabian peninsula flock to Mecca to profess subservience and pay tribute.
631/632 Preparation for campaign in Transjordan and Southern Palestine.
632 Muhammad dies.
If Muhammad was an enthusiastic jihadists and spread Islam by the sword, in what sense is Islam a religion of peace?
edit on 7-9-2012 by ollncasino because: (no reason given)